President Cyril Ramaphosa has shortlisted four candidates for the position of chief justice.

He has submitted the list of candidates to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and leaders of political parties for consideration.

The Constitution requires the president to consult the JSC on the appointment of the chief justice.

The candidates are:

• Constitutional Court Justice, Mbuyiseli Madlanga;
• President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Judge Mandisa Maya;
• Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Dunstan Mlambo; and
• Deputy Chief Justice, Raymond Mnyamezeli Mlungisi Zondo.

In September, Ramaphosa opened the nomination of the next chief justice to the public, in order to promote transparency and enable public participation. This was ahead of Mogoeng Mogoeng's retirement last month.

A nominations panel considered the public's submissions and put forward a list of eight candidates for the president's consideration.

This is the first time in South African history that four chief justice candidates will be interviewed by the JSC as the president usually only nominates one person.